How to hire a kindergarten instructional assistant

How to hire a kindergarten instructional assistant, step by step

Here's a step-by-step kindergarten instructional assistant hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a kindergarten instructional assistant job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new kindergarten instructional assistant
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a kindergarten instructional assistant, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect kindergarten instructional assistant also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list presents kindergarten instructional assistant salaries for various positions.

   Type of Kindergarten Instructional Assistant	Description	Hourly rate
   Kindergarten Instructional Assistant	Teacher assistants work under a teacher’s supervision to give students additional attention and instruction.	$11-17
   Teacher Aide	Teacher aides help lead teachers in managing the classroom. They assist teachers in conducting classroom sessions by setting up the classroom in advance, sourcing materials needed for class activities, helping in presentations, and guiding students during class activities... Show more	$11-17
   Teacher Internship	Teaching interns are individuals who assist teachers and educators in the classroom. The interns are instructed to fulfill the tasks set out and provided by the supervisors for them... Show more	$16-32

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Classroom Management
   • Math
   • Instructional Support
   • CPR
   • Student Performance
   • Language Development
   • Pre-Kindergarten
   • Bulletin Boards
   • Social Development
   • Instructional Materials
   • Public Schools
   • Social Studies
   • IEP
   • Classroom Materials

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Assist in managing and directing day-to-day activities of Pre-Kindergarten students.
   • Write IEP's and meet with parents to discuss them
   • Tackle the challenge of educating ESL learners by creating a nurturing environment which promote learning and exploring new ideas and concepts.
   • Provide individualized, differentiate instruction in reading and math.
   • Plan, develop and implement effective elementary reading and math curriculum.
   • Produce practice style reinforcement worksheets to enhance student mastery regarding phonics, vocabulary, phonological awareness, and comprehension.

   More kindergarten instructional assistant duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your kindergarten instructional assistant job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A kindergarten instructional assistant salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a kindergarten instructional assistant in Florida may be lower than in New York, and an entry-level kindergarten instructional assistant usually earns less than a senior-level kindergarten instructional assistant. Additionally, a kindergarten instructional assistant with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average kindergarten instructional assistant salary

   $14.45hourly

   $30,050 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level kindergarten instructional assistant salary

   $24,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

   Average kindergarten instructional assistant salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$34,810	$17
   2	New Jersey	$33,416	$16
   3	Oregon	$32,452	$16
   4	Pennsylvania	$30,578	$15
   5	Maryland	$30,544	$15
   6	Nevada	$29,077	$14
   7	Georgia	$28,454	$14
   8	Virginia	$28,288	$14
   9	Indiana	$27,405	$13
   10	South Carolina	$26,727	$13
   11	Idaho	$26,121	$13
   12	Louisiana	$24,456	$12

   Average kindergarten instructional assistant salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Community Academy Public Charter School	$32,917	$15.83	4
   2	West Contra Costa Unified School District	$32,713	$15.73	21
   3	Natomas Schools Foundation	$32,289	$15.52
   4	Salem-Keizer Public Schools	$31,499	$15.14	54
   5	Manassas City Public Schools Education Foundation	$30,164	$14.50	6
   6	Wicomico County Public Schools	$29,483	$14.17	6
   7	Code Ninjas	$28,996	$13.94	5
   8	Americorps	$28,461	$13.68	4
   9	Bullitt County Public Schools	$27,336	$13.14	4
   10	Gwinnett County Board of Education	$26,386	$12.69	14
   11	St. Mary School	$25,483	$12.25	2

4. Writing a kindergarten instructional assistant job description

   A job description for a kindergarten instructional assistant role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a kindergarten instructional assistant job description:

   Kindergarten instructional assistant job description example

   Would you like to teach K-2 kids in an exciting and innovative environment? Are you passionate about STEM, coding, and robotics? Do you have experience working with children?
   
   Code Ninjas is hiring Senseis (instructors/tutors) for our JR program (grades K-2). Part-time hours are centered around Saturdays during the day, Tuesday evenings, and Thursday evenings, with the potential to expand. During the summer, there are also opportunities for all-week camps.
   
   We are looking for individuals who are highly engaging, and dynamic, and can plan and lead small group STEM and coding activities for young children.
   Responsibilities of the position include:
   Engaging students, answering questions, assisting with problem-solving Creating a positive and safe environment in which students can grow Utilizing our curriculum to plan and lead hands-on lessons and activities Communicating child’s learning progress to parents Collaborating to enhance and improve the program Qualifications:
   Must enjoy working with young children Experience working with young children Interest in or experience with basic STEM concepts
   Available shifts and compensation: Available shifts on Sundays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Compensation depends on your experience. About Code Ninjas-Smyrna/Vinings: Kids love technology, games, and having fun with friends. Parents want to give their kids the best and brightest future possible. Everyone wins at Code Ninjas. Kids learn to code through our engaging game-based curriculum that teaches teamwork, logic, math, and problem solving. They gain vital skills while having a blast. That's the Code Ninjas way!
   By applying to this job, you agree to receive periodic text messages from this employer and Homebase about your pending job application. Opt out anytime. Msg & data rates may apply.
   
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5. Post your job

   To find kindergarten instructional assistants for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any kindergarten instructional assistants they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level kindergarten instructional assistants with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your kindergarten instructional assistant job on Zippia to find and recruit kindergarten instructional assistant candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit kindergarten instructional assistants, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new kindergarten instructional assistant

   Once you've decided on a perfect kindergarten instructional assistant candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new kindergarten instructional assistant. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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